Editing Future Combat Air System (section)

== History ==
The FCAS concept was developed in the frame of the European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP) that was started in 2001 as a co-operation between Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and Spain. The new FCAS concept was a [[System of Systems]] (SoS) approach combining manned and unmanned systems, combat aircraft and [[UCAV]], to be more efficient in the envisaged future scenarios than operating with manned systems alone.

In 2017 Germany and Spain asked [[Airbus]] to start working on a proposal for a new fighter under the name Future Combat Air System (FCAS).<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 July 2017 |title=Is The Proposed Airbus Fighter Jet A Non-starter? |url=https://www.defensemirror.com/news/19796/Is_The_Proposed_Airbus_Fighter_Jet_A_Non_starter_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108024949/https://www.defensemirror.com/news/19796/Is_The_Proposed_Airbus_Fighter_Jet_A_Non_starter_ |archive-date=8 January 2024 |access-date= |website=Defense Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rettman |first=Andrew |date=12 June 2017 |title=EU states eye production of new fighter jet |url=https://euobserver.com/economic/138193 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004133349/https://euobserver.com/green-economy/138193 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |access-date=17 March 2021 |website=[[EUobserver]] |language=en}}</ref>

At the 2018 [[ILA Berlin Air Show]], [[Dassault Aviation]] and [[Airbus]] announced an agreement to cooperate on the development of the FCAS.

In December 2018, the German Defence Ministry welcomed [[Spain]]'s expression of interest in the programme.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shalal |first=Andrea |last2=Binnie |first2=Isla |date=5 December 2018 |title=Germany, France to add Spain to fighter program: sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-military-spain/germany-france-to-add-spain-to-fighter-program-sources-idUSKBN1O429R |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025102611/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-military-spain/germany-france-to-add-spain-to-fighter-program-sources-idUSKBN1O429R |archive-date=25 October 2023 |access-date=7 December 2018 |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

In June 2019 Spain joined the programme.<ref>{{cite news |last=Calvo |first=Luis |date=17 June 2019 |title=La ministra de Defensa española ha firmado en el Salón de Le Bourget la incorporación al programa FCAS por parte española |url=https://fly-news.es/defensa-industria/espana-ya-oficialmente-pais-fcas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205213943/https://fly-news.es/industria/especial-paris-air-show-2019/espana-ya-oficialmente-pais-fcas/ |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=17 June 2019 |publisher=fly-news.es |language=es-ES}}</ref>

In June 2023, Belgium became an observer to the FCAS programme.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 June 2023 |title=Belgium enters EU programme for 'next generation' fighter jets: sources |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/562009/belgium-enters-eu-programme-for-next-generation-fighter-jets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623003228/https://www.brusselstimes.com/562009/belgium-enters-eu-programme-for-next-generation-fighter-jets |archive-date=23 June 2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 |publisher=The Brussels Times with Belga}}</ref> The country was set to join the programme by June 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Tim |date=2023-11-27 |title=Belgium to join Europe’s FCAS next-gen fighter program in June 2025 |url=https://breakingdefense.sites.breakingmedia.com/2023/11/belgium-to-join-europes-fcas-program-in-june-2025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217233820/https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/belgium-to-join-europes-fcas-program-in-june-2025/ |archive-date=17 December 2023 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Breaking Defense |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Gallery
 |title=Illustrations of the New Generation Fighter
 |align=center
 |File:Scaf-test.stl|Interactive 3D model of the FCAS mockup shown at the 2019 Paris Air Show
 |File:SCAF-Dassault livery-E28e3YtX0AI6f7u.jpeg|Livery similar to the illustrations published by Dassault in early 2021
 |File:SCAF NGF-523616-P-BEF36-987.jpg|Artist's illustration of the aircraft in flight, after the project as of 2022
}}

In December 2019 [[Safran]] and [[MTU Aero Engines]] agreed on the foundation of a 50/50 joint venture that will be incorporated by the end of 2021 to manage the development, production, and the after-sales support activities of the new engine to power the NGF.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Gareth |date=3 December 2019 |title=Safran, MTU agree framework for future fighter engine |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/safran-mtu-agree-framework-for-future-fighter-engine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108025800/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/safran-mtu-agree-framework-for-future-fighter-engine |archive-date=8 January 2024 |access-date=28 April 2020 |website=Janes}}</ref>

On 12 February 2020, the first phase (1A) of the research and development program was approved by the German parliament budget committee. It set up the industrial distribution of the first five subprograms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Charpentreau |first=Clement |date=2020-02-13 |title=European fighter jet demonstrator receives German greenlight |url=https://www.aerotime.aero/24554-european-fighter-jet-demonstrator-receives-german-greenlight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610191205/https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/24554-european-fighter-jet-demonstrator-receives-german-greenlight |archive-date=2023-06-10 |access-date=2020-02-14 |work=AeroTime.aero |language=en-US}}</ref>